Chennis Berry, Benedict Tigers Football Deserve Our Attention

It's time to pay close attention to one of the best HBCU head coaches and football programs in the nation.

HOUSTON — Benedict College (5-0) may have one of the best HBCU football programs in the country.  Instead, the Tigers are rarely in the conversation because it's not a Division I program, and their head coach doesn't have NFL pedigree.  Nevertheless, it's time to become better acquainted with Chennis Berry and the 2022 HBCU Division II National Champions.

Benedict Tigers head football coach Chennis Berry

WHO IS COACH CHENNIS BERRY?

After coaching for 29 years in the SWAC, MEAC, and SIAC, Chennis Berry has transformed Benedict College into a remarkable football program and story. What Berry is developing in Columbia, South Carolina, subtly parallels what a legendary coach created at Louisiana Negro Normal and Industrial Institute in the early 1940s. The coach? Eddie G. Robinson, aka Coach Rob. His teams put Grambling State University on the map as a college football powerhouse, builder of superstars, and future Pro Football Hall of Fame players.  A few wonder if Coach Berry could find his measure of sustainable success at a Division II football program in Columbia, SC.

Over the years of meeting with remarkable athletes and coaches, two common themes have precipitated from those conversations: humility and gratefulness. Coach Berry not only embodies them, he exudes them.

"When we took over this program in 2020, I had just left the SWAC," Berry began to outline his story to HBCU Legends. "I spent seven years at Southern University as an offensive coordinator and online coach. I had a lot of success there. But the good Lord provided me with an opportunity to become a head football coach."   

HIS GOD-SENT MISSION AT BENEDICT

Before landing the position at Benedict, he interviewed at Howard University, Alabama A&M, Fort Valley State, and his alma mater, Savannah State. "I had spent 26 years as an assistant, whether as a coordinator or an o-line coach. And it was my time," Berry noted. "He doesn't make any mistakes. He puts you somewhere for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. He landed me here in Columbia, South Carolina, at Benedict College. And when I took over this program, it was 1 and 9 prior to my arrival. We could put a staff together, not like-minded individuals, but with individuals with shared values. I want different ideas and different ways to do things. Because it's not that I don't have all the answers, but I want people to have shared values. They have to be people that are serious about being men of God. They have to be leaders. Because we got to understand, we're in a ministry, and coaching is a ministry." 

2022 SIAC Champions; Credit: Benedict College Athletics

QUALITIES OF A GREAT COACH IN THE MAKING

All influential leaders have codes, principles, and precepts as elements of their doctrine. John Merritt, W. C. Gorden, Jake Gaither, Marino Casem, Archie Cooley, Rudy Hubbard, Pete Richardson, and the great Eddie Robinson were dogmatic in instilling the concept of excellence in the young men they coached. In the end, the winning becomes just the byproduct. However, building young men into productive men in our society is the goal of coaches like Chennis Berry.

"When you're taking over a program [like the one] we took over. You have to get young men to believe in your program. We don't want just a good football team. Those are the teams that win every now and then. We want a good football program that wins consistently, year in and year out," Berry pointed out.

Although the two coaches haven't met, Deion Sanders and Chennis Berry have shared values. You can hear, feel, and notice similarities.  Their belief in God, passionate approach to football, and inspirational phrasing have people orbiting around, and gravitating to them.  That spirit permeates to the coaches, players, students, administrators, fans, and even the casual observers meeting him at the local Walmart.   Winning at Benedict is becoming contagious.

Credit: Benedict Athletics

SOMETHING SPECIAL IS BREWING AT BENEDICT

No other player exemplifies the Benedict Tigers' spirit of excellence more than defensive star Loobert Denelus. The senior edge rusher has nine sacks and 14.5 tackles for losses after five games this season. Last week, the HBCU Legacy Bowl invited him to the all-star bowl game in New Orleans, Louisiana on Saturday, Feb. 24, 2024. "He is a humble young man, first of all. He's a hungry young man. He's been at Benedict in his 3rd season. He has not made a B. It's all A's. He'll graduate in December. He's the strongest on the team in the weight room. He's the 1st in there and the last to lead. He takes care of his body. He is a great person. And, obviously, you cut the film on, he's a really, really, really good football player."

Since taking over the Benedict football program on Feb. 11, 2020, the team has 21 wins and five losses. In 2022, the Tigers were undefeated during the regular season but fell to Wingate University 23-6 in the 2022 NCAA Division II Super Region 2 playoff game. Next, Benedict will clash with Miles, Fort Valley State, Kentucky State, Savannah State, and literally "cross-the-street" rival Allen University in their season's finale.

"Benedict is a good place with good people. I think people now across the country, not just in this geographical area, but a lot of people across the country know about Benedict College Football and the program we're trying to build here...There's perception, then there's reality. All I ask you to do is give us a chance...Great things are happening at Benedict College, not just with the football program. Our academics are amazing. Our facilities are first class. And, our people on campus are first class," Coach Berry cited.

The time to have Coach Chennis Berry and his "football ministry" mentioned weekly as the best HBCU football programs in the nation is now. If not now, when?

We shall see.

Next: Coach Berry's Thoughts On HBCU Football, Deion Sanders, and More.